Falco peregrinus
The Peregrine Falcon is a striking raptor with a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head with distinctive facial markings. It has a hooked beak and powerful yellow legs with sharp talons.
Females are often darker than males but otherwise very similar in plumage. However, they are noticeably larger than males, often by up to 30%.
Juveniles have brown upperparts and streaked underparts, gradually moulting into adult plumage over their first year. Young birds are also streaked rather than barred below and have blueish (not yellow) skin around their eyes and the base of their bill.
Length
34cm to 58cm
Wingspan
74cm to 120cm
Weight
330g to 1.5kg
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Blue Grey
Secondary Colour
White Black
Beak Colour
Black Grey Yellow
Leg Colour
Yellow
Recorded as the fastest bird in level flight
Record: 389 km/h (242 mph) diving speed
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Peregrine Falcons have a nearly worldwide distribution, absent only from Antarctica. They inhabit a wide range of environments, from Arctic tundra to tropical forests and, increasingly, urban areas.
They are right at home in many modern cities where rooftops and ledges make ideal nest sites, and feral Rock Doves provide a year-round food source.
In North America, they breed across Alaska and northern Canada, with populations in the western mountains and along both coasts. European populations are found from the UK to Russia, while they also occur across Australia and New Zealand.
Sea level to 3,300 meters
Temperate, Arctic, Subtropical, Tropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Peregrine Falcon. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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